Son and daughter take on charity in memory of mum

Siblings from Morpeth will take on the Great North Run this weekend in memory of their mum.

Adrian Drake and his sister Harriet Evans, will take on the 13.1 mile challenge on Saturday to raise funds for St Oswald’s Hospice, based in Gosforth.

Adrian, who is general Manager at Heighley Gate Garden Centre, said: “I lost my mother to cancer in 2014 and in her last days, my mother, my sister and I decided it would be a good idea to run the Great North Run.

“When she died my sister and I agreed to run in her memory and to raise much needed funds for St Oswald’s Hospice.

“With Mum dying as she did I experienced first-hand how caring and compassionate people can be and how important charities like St Oswald’s are.

“Although Mum was from Suffolk, I live in Northumberland and it was important to me to support a local charity.

“Without charities and organisations like St Oswald’s the world would be a scary, lonely place and the great work that is often unrecognised is quite honestly amazing.”

Adrian is hoping to raise £2,000 by December 31, and has already organised a car wash, a bake off and a dog show as well as asking friends and family for their support.

Adrian added: “I am not cut out to be a long distance runner, more a sprinter, so 13.1m is a considerable challenge for me, but not my sister by all accounts who has run the London marathon previously, so I’m up against it – sibling rivalry.”

Helen Alderson, Fundraiser at St Oswald’s, said: “We are so grateful to Adrian for supporting us, and think it’s a wonderful way to remember his Mum.

“We hope he has a brilliant day and soaks up the atmosphere. We’ll be there to cheer him on as he reaches the finish line.”